Man, the NBA schedule makers really threw a curveball for this Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you're looking for who playing in the nba tonight, you might have missed the fact that the action actually started across the pond.
Ja Morant just put on a show in London. Seriously. He dropped 26 points and 13 assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the Orlando Magic, 126-109, at The O2 Arena. It was a mid-day tip-off for us in the States, but it sets the tone for a six-game slate that is honestly a bit of a mess because of some massive injury news.
The big story? The superstars are mostly on the sidelines. If you were hoping to see Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic, I’ve got some bad news.
The Sunday Lineup: Who’s Actually Taking the Floor?
After that London matinee, we’ve got five more games spanning from the Windy City to the West Coast. Here is the breakdown of the matchups and the specific times you need to care about.
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Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls (7:00 PM ET)
This is a battle of teams trying to find an identity. The Bulls are hovering around that .500 mark, and the Nets are... well, they’re the Nets. Chicago is dealing with a banged-up Patrick Williams (ankle), while Brooklyn is still missing Michael Porter Jr. for "injury maintenance." Expect a lot of Josh Giddey and Coby White trying to out-maneuver a Brooklyn backcourt that feels like it changes every week.
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets (7:00 PM ET)
Payback time. Houston blew a massive lead to the Pels back in December, and you know Ime Udoka hasn't let them forget it. Kevin Durant is still doing KD things for the Rockets—he put up 32 recently and looks like he hasn't aged a day. The Pelicans are gutted, though. No Dejounte Murray, no Herb Jones, and no Jose Alvarado. It’s basically the Zion Williamson show vs. a very disciplined Houston squad.
Charlotte Hornets at Denver Nuggets (8:00 PM ET)
This one feels lopsided on paper, but Denver is in a weird spot. Nikola Jokic is OUT with that knee hyperextension. Without the Big Honey, the Nuggets are a totally different team. They’re starting Aaron Gordon at center or leaning heavily on Peyton Watson. On the other side, LaMelo Ball is healthy and probably licking his chops at a Jokic-less paint.
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Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings (9:00 PM ET)
Portland is actually playing some of their best basketball right now. They just thumped the Lakers yesterday behind 25 from Shaedon Sharpe. Sacramento, meanwhile, is struggling. They’re at the bottom of the West standings, which is wild considering where they were two years ago.
Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Lakers (9:30 PM ET)
The nightcap at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers are a mess of "questionable" tags. Luka Doncic is day-to-day with groin soreness. If he doesn't go, it’s LeBron James carrying the load at age 41. Toronto isn't much healthier—RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl are both out. It’s going to be a game of "who wants it less."
Why the Nuggets and Lakers Are Reeling
When you look at who playing in the nba tonight, the names not playing are almost more important.
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Denver is trying to stay in the top three of the Western Conference, but losing Jokic until late January is a nightmare. They’re 29-13, but their SRS (Simple Rating System) shows they aren't quite as dominant as Oklahoma City. Without Jokic, they lose about 12 points of offensive efficiency. That’s a massive cliff.
Over in LA, the "Luka in Purple and Gold" experiment has been a statistical success but a health disaster. He’s leading the league in scoring (33.6 PPG), yet the Lakers are only 24-16. If he and Deandre Ayton both sit tonight, the Raptors might actually steal one on the road, even with their own roster issues.
The Injury Report "Must-Knows"
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets): Out (Knee). Expected back Jan 30.
- Luka Doncic (Lakers): Questionable (Groin).
- Fred VanVleet (Rockets): Out (ACL).
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics): (Note: Celtics played yesterday, he’s still out with the Achilles).
- Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers): (Note: Also played yesterday, out for the season).
Real Advice for Watching Tonight
If you’re planning your night around these games, focus on the Rockets vs. Pelicans game for the best pure basketball. Houston is the #1 rebounding team in the league right now. Watching Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson work the glass is a clinic.
Avoid the Lakers/Raptors game unless you’re a die-hard or Luka is confirmed "In" during warmups. It’s likely to be a slow, grind-it-out affair with a lot of backup minutes.
Next Steps for Your Sunday Night:
- Check the late-breaking starting lineups about 30 minutes before the 7:00 PM ET tips; the Bulls and Lakers situations are fluid.
- If you have NBA League Pass, flip over to the Rockets game to see if Kevin Durant can continue his 50/40/90 season pace.
- Keep an eye on the Western Conference standings—a Nuggets loss tonight could move San Antonio into the #2 seed.